21. Epilogue Valmore

Hazel and I emerged from the jungle to see Garath, Xavier, Daphne, and Merrit already seated on the grass. Garath laughed at something Merrit said, but a shriek from across the field drowned out the words.

Obi, Daphne and Garath's young son, and Wynter, Xavier and Merrit's sweet daughter, raced over the hilltop laughing and screaming their heads off. Obi's younger sister and Wynter's younger brother followed hot on their heels, with Zale coming in last.

My heart soared when I saw him. Zale, my son. Named after my father, who died before I really got to know him. But I would know my son, and I would watch him as he grew up strong .

In six short years, he grew nearly as tall as Obi. I could see at a glance that something stopped him from starting the race, or else he would have outstripped the others with little effort.

The others ran over to their parents, but Zale dashed straight past them. He attacked me and swung over my shoulder onto my back. "Dad! You gotta see!"

I twirled him around my head and set him on the ground. "See what, boy?"

Obi similarly grabbed Garath's hand and started pulling him across the field. "Come and look! We're finally ready to show you!"

I glanced at Hazel, who was watching me and Zane with such love in her eyes. She nodded and stood, curiosity getting the better of her.

The others pulled their parents to their feet and towed everyone across the field. Zale dragged me after them. A huge grin brightened his face. He usually stayed so serious about everything, so I was beyond intrigued by that spark of mischief in his eyes.

I cast a glance around the field as we headed down to the stream on the far side. After six years of peace and security on this planet, our people ventured farther and farther from Caverncall. Our children played freely in the jungle, and this meadow on the valley floor became a favorite. We even camped out here on warm summer nights like this one.

The sun dipped low behind the canopy. A fresh breeze brought the scent of flowers from the jungle. Tonight might be a perfect night to sneak off somewhere secluded and unseen.

I glanced at Hazel to see if she was thinking the same thing, but just then, the five children stopped. They jumped up and down, waving toward their brilliant revelation.

We stared at five huts tucked into the undergrowth. The kids continued to jump up and down in delight. "We're setting up our own colony," Obi announced. "We're going to start living down here."

The other adults and I exchanged glances. Part of me wanted to encourage their enterprising spirits, though another part of me wondered just how safe it was to let them venture this far.

Then I remembered. The IPA guarded this planet with the might of its military juggernaut. Our early warning system and long-range scans, along with a satellite missile defense system, kept us safe from enemies long since destroyed.

The human colony on the other side of the planet was our friend and ally. And the only carnivorous species native to this planet had been killed off in battle long ago when the Ranxi corrupted them .

"A new colony?" Merrit shrugged. "Why not? It's about time we expand."

Xavier laughed. "It's a very good start to a colony. I might like to move in too. When can you build a house for me?"

Everyone started laughing at once. The children took us on a tour of their creations. Obi and Wynter had made large, elaborate mansions of branches, thatch, and even underground rooms. Their younger siblings also did well with sturdy, wind-resistant huts.

Zale, however, outdid them all. He built an interconnected labyrinth of tree houses with ramps, covered passages, and even trapezes for traveling between them. Most had verandas, balconies, and levered windows overlooking the meadow, the stream, and picturesque sweeps of forest. He really had become quite the architect.

Zale led us into a large, decorated chamber perched on the treetops. It contained a single large bed made up with blankets woven from soft fiber.

Zale waved his hand at the view from the balcony beyond the double doors. "This is for you, Father—you and Mother. I made it just for you."

Hazel squeezed my hand, and we exchanged glances. This room looked more inviting than our house in Caverncall. Zale had decorated the room with flowers, a colorful tapestry on the wall, and chains of flowers over the window.

"I think…" Hazel murmured, "that we will definitely turn this into our new colony."

Voices drifted through the trees from the other houses, but I felt no need to join our friends. Zale went off to see the others, but Hazel and I lingered in our new room.

She meandered onto the veranda and peered over the railing. Daphne and Vassa's voices came from directly below. I came up behind her and slipped my arms around her.

From here, we could see our friends winding through the structures the children made. Though the rudimentary buildings would need some work, it was all at the very least functional to sleep in for the night. And knowing that our children had started it made it feel like home.

Peace and serenity surrounded us, near and far. We vanquished our enemies and built a world where our children could grow up. We gave them a future to look forward to, a future they could help build. Pride swelled in my heart for my son, my mate, my family, my people.

Hazel twisted her head and kissed my cheek. "How do you feel?"

I rested my chin on her shoulder and feasted my eyes on the sight before me. "I feel good. I feel at home here."

"Me too." She leaned back into my embrace. "This is home."

"I never realized it before I came here, but this was all I ever wanted. After so many years alone, I finally found what I was looking for."

Just then, Zale came running up the path below us. "Father!" he yelled. "Father! Obi and I are going up to Caverncall. We're going to bring blankets so Garath and Daphne can spend the night in Obi's hut."

"Bring down some food for your mother and me!" I called back.

"And bring my notebook!" Hazel added.

We both laughed, and I remarked, "It looks like it's official. This is our new colony."

"We'll have to come up with a name for it," Hazel mused.

"How about Methuselah ?"

She laughed. "I was thinking more about something like New Hope."

"Boring!" I chided. "What about Hazelwood?"

She blushed bright red. "Merrit and Daphne might feel a bit overshadowed with a name like that."

"Okay. How about Haven? "

Hazel smiled. "That sounds perfect." She slipped her arms around my neck and leaned in to kiss me.

I picked her up and carried her back into the room, setting her down on the bed. The voices from outside got mixed up with the chirp of insects in the canopy. They sang us a melody of safety, ease, and prosperity.

Who could ask for more?

The End